Material elevator



March 26, 1957 3, MYERS 2,786,550

MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 29, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F' G. i. 52

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March 26, 1957 c. A. MYERS MATERIAL ELEVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES fi. MYERS,

Filed Oct. 29, 1954 March 26, 1957 c. A. MYERS 2,786,550

MATERIAL ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 29, 1954 i 5 Shets-Sheec a FIG. 5',

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March 26, 1957 'c. A. MYERS MATERIAL ELEVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct.- 29, 1954 MYEBS,

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March 26, 1957 Filed Oct. 29, 1954 c. A. MYERS 2,786,550

MATERIAL ELEVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Ll Cf/AELES '4. MYEQS,

device, portions of the components of the hoist I broken away to reveal interior details of'constru'ction.

of the auxiliary U tCd States r MATERIAL ELEVATOR Charles A. Myers, Peoria, Ill. Application October 29, 1954, serarmmass 3 Claims. (Cl. 187-12) This invention relates to elevator devices, and more particularly to an improved hoist device terials. p

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved elevator for building materials, and more particularly for use on a building having a roof structure for building maon which it is desired to transport building materials, the

ing durable in construction, and being safe to use;

Further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a'building adjacent to which is positioned an improved building material" hoist device according to the present nvention. h

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective yiew of the top portion of the vertical rails of the hbistfdev'ice of Figure l and the material-carrying member of the Figure 3 is an enlargedfragmentary perspective vi ew of an end portion of the material-supporting carriage and an adjacent top portion of a vertical rail' of the hoist assembly of Figures 1 and 2, portions of t hejel l ernents being brokenaway to facilitate disclosure thereof, the latchtmeans associated with the material hoist. being illustrated in the position thereof immediately prior to the release of the auxiliary carriage of the hoist 's'tructrue at the point where the main carriage thereof "has reached the top end of its vertical travel;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the same components of Figure 3 but showing the latch means in released position whereby the auxiliary carriage may be moved over the roof structure on the auxiliary rails of the hoist device and whereby the main carriage is locked at the top ends of the vertical rails. Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the auxiliary carriage elevated to a midway'positiononthe vertical rails.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective yiwbf the auxiliary carriage elevated to a position for ascent along the inclined rails.

- Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the portion carriage which travels along'theinclin'ed rails. 1 Figure 8 is anexploded perspective view of the portion of the auxiliary carriage which travels along the vertical rails.

' Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the connection between the vertical and inclined rails.

2,786,550 Patented Mar. 26, 1957 Referring to the, drawings, 51 designates a building having the roof structure 52, said roof structure being of the double-pitched type. Designated generally at 53 is a material elevator which is suitably positioned adjacent the building 51 and which is arranged for hoisting building materials onto the roof structure 52, as shown. The material hoist device 53 comprises a pair of vertical rails 11, 11 which are suitably connected together in parallel relationship and which are connected at their top ends by a transverse cross bar 12, said cross bar being inwardly offset, as is clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The vertical rails 11, 11 are channel-shaped and define vertical tracks. M H p I Designated at 22, 22 are a pair of parallel inclined rails which are suitably connected together and which 11. The main carriage 54, Figures 2 and 8, includes the adjustable horizontal struts 23 at the respective sides of the main carriage, the struts 23 being connected at their rear ends to the lower portions of the vertical supports 56 and being connected at their outer ends to the lower end portions of inclined channel-shaped side rails 57 which are connected at their upper ends to the top portions of the vertical supports 56. The outer ends of the channel shaped side rails 57 are connected together by a suitable cross bar 58, as shown in Figure 2.

Designated generally at 22, Figures 1, 2 and 7, is an auxiliary carriage which is normally supported on the main carriage 54, the auxiliary carriage 22' being provided with the depending plates 59 having rollers 60 journaled thereto, said rollers being engaged in the channel shaped side rails 57. The auxiliary carriage 22 is 'to form extensions thereof when the main carriage 54 is positioned at the top ends of the vertical rails 11, 11, allowing the auxiliary carriage 22 to be moved from the channel shaped side rails 57 of the main carriage 54 onto the auxiliary rails22, 22. i

Designated at'ltl 'is a cable having one end thereof connected to alug 62 on the rear portion of the auxiliary carriage 22'} the cable 10 normally extending over a pulley 63 carried on an arm 44 on the cross bar 12,

and over respective pulleys 65 and 66 at the upper ends of-the auxiliary rails 22, 22, as shown in Figure l,

and then downwardly over a pulley 67 on one of the vertical rails 11 to a winch 68 mounted on the lower portion:of said one of the side rails 11. v

The arm44 is pivotally mounted on the cross bar 12 and is normally locked in vertical position by the engagement of respective pins 70 on the opposite sides of the "end portion of the" arm 44 with pivoted latches 43, 43

mounted on the respective opposite sides of an upstanding stud member 71 "on a cross bar 72 secured to the top portions of the vertical rails 11, 11. The latch mein- T'ber's'43fhave depending release portions 74 which "are engag'eableby, respective bell crank levers 42 pivotally -nitmnted at opposite sides of the arm 44 on a cross bar 76 secured to the vertical rails 11, 11. A cross bar 41 on the main carriage 54 engages the inner arms 77 of the bell crank levers 42 when the main carriage 54 reaches the upper end of "its travel on the rails 'l'l, 11, causing the bell cranks 42 to be rotated counterclockwise, as viewed'in Figures 2, and 6, to engage the depending release portions 74 of the latches 43, whereby thelatches are rotated clockwise disengaging from the 'pins 71 and releasing the arm 44, allowing the 'arm 44 to rotate from its vertical position to the horizontal position thereof shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, whereby it is removed from the path of subsequent movement of the auxiliary carriage 22'. An inclined arm 45 on the main carriage 54 cooperates with a triangular flange 79 on the arm 44 to limit the rotation of the arm 44 to the horizontal position thereof shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6. A transverse'pin element 80, Figures 2, 5 and 6, on the end of the arm 45 cammingly cooperates with the edge of the flange 79 when the main carriage 54 is subsequently moved downwardly, to cause the arm 44 to be rotated clockwise to its vertical upstanding position, wherein the pin elements 70 lockingly engage with the latches 43 and secure the arm 44 in said vertical upstanding position.

A plate member 13 is pivoted at 81 to the upper portion of each vertical support 56, each plate member 13 being formed with the upwardly facing notch 24. As shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the notches 24 are engageable with the cross bar 12 when the main carriage 54 reaches the top end of its upward movement. The plate members 13 are biased clockwise, as viewed in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 by coiled springs 38 connecting the outer ends of the plate members with pins 85 secured to the lower portions of the supports 56. Pivoted at 86 to the supports 56 opposite the plate members 13 are respective latch levers 18 having cam-like heads 19 and which are lockingly engageable with pins 14 on the plate members 13 in a manner presently to be described. Each plate member 13 is provided with a lower abutment pin '87 which is engageable with the associated lever 18 and with a respective lever 15 pivoted at 88 to a bracket 89 carried by the associated plate member 13. The end of each lever 15 is provided with a hooked catch element 17 which is lockingly engageable with a pin 20 projecting from a depending end of a bifurcated latch member 21 located adjacent each rail 57 and pivotally mounted on a transverse rod 90 carried by the main carriage 54. Rigidly secured to the rod 90 is a slotted bracket 28 through which extends a latch member 37 pivoted at 91 to the head 19 of lever 18. The top portion of bracket 28 is formed with a flange 28' engageable by the forward edge of lever 21 to force bracket 28 at times into locking position. The notched bottom edge of the latch 37 is engageable with an outwardly projecting lug 39 formed on the bracket 28 and at times interlocks therewith in a manner presently to be described. Each bracket 28 is biased counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, by an associated coiled spring 32 connected to a suitable portion of the framework of the main carriage 54. An arm 35 is pivoted at 92 to each bracket 28, said arm 35 having a pin thereon which is at times lockingly engageable with a notch 29 formed in the corner portion of the associated bracket member 28, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. A pin 34 on the upper portion of each lever 21 is engageable beneath the associated arm to rotate the arm 35 away from locking engagement with notch 29, as will be presently explained.

Each lever 21, Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, has an open ended slot 33 in its upper portion which is engageable with a pin 26 carried on a depending bracket 27 secured to the associated side portion of the frame of the auxiliary'carriage 22. Counterclockwise rotationof the associated lever 21 at each side of the main carriage '54 "is limited by a stop member 47 provided on the adjacent portion of the frame of the auxiliary carriage 22', as is clearly shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The depending plates 59 are integrally formed with the depending members 27, as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

In operation, when the main carriage 54 has been elevated by the cable 18 to its limit of upward movement on the vertical rails 11, 11, the cross bar 12 engages in the notches 24- and rotates the plate members 13 counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 3 and 6, causing the pins 1.4 to move the levers 15 downwardly, namely clockwise around the pivots 88, as viewed in Figures 3 and 6, causing the hooked catch elements '17 to disengagefrom the pins 20 andsimultaneously causing the levers 18 to be rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 3 and 6 by the engagement of the pin elements 14 with the cam-like heads 19. Eventually, the pins 14 lockingly engage with the cam-like heads 19, as shown in Figures 4 and 6.

When the catch elements 17 are disengaged from the pins 20, the bifurcated latch members 21 are free to rotate clockwise, as viewed in Figures 3 and 5, and when sufficient force is applied to the cable 10, the auxiliary carriage 22"may be moved upwardly along the rails 57, "since the pin elements 26 act against the slots 33 to cause the latch members 21 to be rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figures 3 and 5. Thus, the pin elements 14 not only release the catch members 17 from the latches rails 22, 22 by the force exerted on the cable 10. As

the carriage 22 moves outwardly and departs from the main carriage '54, the latches 21 are rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figures 3, 4 and 6 by the pins 26, as above described.

Each member 28 is provided with a flange 28, as above described, engageable by its associated latch member 21, whereby the members 28 are rotated simultaneously with the latch members 21. Thus, the notches 29 lockingly engage with the adjacent pins 30 to lock the members 28 in their rotated positions shown in Figures 4 and 6. The springs 31 also act to hold the latch members 21 in their released positions. Furthermore, the latch members 37 are lockingly engaged at their bottom notches 94 with the edges of the lugs 39, as shown in Figures 4 and 6.

After the material has been unloaded from the auxiliary carriage 22', the weight of the auxiliary carriage allows it to move downwardly along the auxiliary rails 22 back onto the main carriage 54. As the auxiliary carriage 22' is lowered onto the main carriage 54, the

pins 26 engage in the slots 33, forcing the top portions of the members '21 to upright positions. The latch me1n 'b ers 21 areprovided with pin members 34 which act on the bottom edges of the arms 35 to elevate said arms 35, causingrthe locking pins 30 to be disengaged from the notches 29. When the pin members 30 are thus released, the members '28 are free to rotate counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 4 and 5, by the action of the springs 32. The bracket members 28 rotating counterclockwise, as viewed in Figures 4 and 5, carry with them the arms 37, thereby causing the levers 18 to be rotated counterclockwise around their pivots 86, disengaging the head elements 19 from the pins 14 and freeing the plate members 13 so that they can rotate clockwise, as viewed in Figures 4 and 5, by the action of the springs 38 to their normal positions wherein the main carriage 54 is free to descend.

As the main carriage 54 descends from its uppermost position, as above explained, the arm 44 is rotated from its horizontal position of Figures 2 and 6 to its vertical upright position, the pin elements 70 lockingly engaging with the latches 43 to secure the arm 44 in said upright vertical position, whereby the main carriage 54 with the auxiliary carriage 22' mounted thereon may return downwardly to ground level. When the plate members 13 are returned to their initial positions, the pins 29 interlock with the latch elements 17, thus locking the top portions of the members 21 in upright positions en the pins 26, insuring that the auxiliary carriage 22 will be retained on the main carriage 54.

While a specific embodiment of an improved material hoist assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material hoist for a building including a roof structure, a pair of vertical rails, a pair of inclined rails arranged on said roof structure adjacent the top ends of said vertical rails, a main carriage slidably engaged with said vertical rails, an auxiliary carriage mounted on said main carriage, inclined rail elements on said main carriage registra'ble with said auxiliary rails when said main carriage is at the top ends of said vertical rails, an auxiliary carriage on said main carriage and having means slidably engaged with said inclined rail elements, latch means on said main carriage lockingly engaging said auxiliary carriage, means at the top ends of said vertical rails arranged to release said latch means when said main carriage reaches said top ends, and cable means connected to said auxiliary carriage and arranged to elevate said carriages along said rails.

2. In a material hoist for a building including a roof structure, a pair of vertical rails, a pair of inclined rails arranged on said roof structure adjacent the top ends of said vertical rails, a main carriage slidably engaged with said vertical rails, an auxiliary carriage mounted on said main carriage, inclined rail elements on said main carriage registrable with said auxiliary rails when said main carriage is at the top ends of said vertical rails, an auxiliary carriage on said main carriage and having means slidably engaged with said inclined rail elements, lat-ch means on said main carriage lockingly engaging said auxiliary carriage, means at the top ends of said vertical rails arranged. to release said latch means and lock the main carriage to the top ends of said vertical rails when said main carriage reaches said top ends, and cable means connected to said auxiliary carriage and arranged to elevate said carriages along said rails.

3. in a inateriai hoist for a building including a roof structure, a pa r of vertical rails, a pair of inclined rails arranged on said roof structure adjacent the top ends of said vertical rails, a main carriage slidably engaged With said vertical rails, an auxiliary carriage mounted on said main carriage, inclined rail elements on said main carriage registrable with said auxiliary rails when said main carriage is at the top ends of said vertical rails, an auxiliary carriage on said main carriage and having means "slidably engaged with said inclined rail elements, latch means on said main carriage lockingly engaging said auxiliary carriage, a transverse cross bar connected to the top ends of said vertical rails arranged to release said latch means when main carriage reaches said top end-s, detent means on said main carriage lockingly engageable with said cross bar when said latch means is released to secure said main carriage to said cross bar when said main carriage reaches said top ends, and cable means connected to said auxiliary carriage and arranged to elevate said carriages along said rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Conrad et a1 Nov. 3, 1874 

